Q: Isn’t it depressing to work with terminally ill patients every day?

A: Not at all! In fact, many of our staff find it uplifting to work with patients and families who truly need their assistance. In an age when medicine seems increasingly depersonalized, hospice care is one of the last bastions of hands-on care. VITAS employees get daily reminders that they are in a field where they can make a difference.

The key to good hospice care is that every member of an interdisciplinary team gets to know and understand each patient and his or her loved ones as unique individuals. In addition, the support that is the basis of an effective interdisciplinary team also helps our clinical staff appreciate the rewards of the hospice experience. For many clinicians, hospice work brings them back to the reasons they chose a career in healthcare.

Q: I’m used to working in a hospital. Is it hard to adjust to the self-directed work style of a hospice home care team?

A: Our staff often find that they easily adjust to and actually enjoy an independent schedule—one that is truly focused on the needs of patients and their families.

Wouldn't you like to work in an environment in which one-to-one, hands-on care is part of a typical day? Rather than being an order-filler and a slave to the call button, wouldn’t you like to use all of your diagnostic and assessment skills? These are the advantages of being a part of a hospice home care team.

read more